Tool for removing wheels from automobile axles



O. E. HART Aug. 2, 1932.

TOOL FOR REMOVING WHEELS FROM AUTOMOBILE AXLES Filed DeG. 18. 1929 liwenlor: 0.500 Ejiart,

V by

Patented Aug. 2, 1932 PATENT OFFICE osoo E. HART, or COLORADO mines, COLORADO 'roor'. ron :anmovm WHEELS mom AUTOMOBILE axLEs Application filed December 18, 1929. Serial No. 414,954.

This invention relates to devices for removing wheels from the axles of automobiles and has for its object the provision of a tool of this character in which hydraulic pressure is used thereby effecting the removal of the wheels more quickly and with less labor.

This object is attained by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

For the pur ose of illustrating the invention, one pre erred form thereof is illustrated in the drawing, this form having been .found to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood thatthe various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can bevariously arranged andorganized, and the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities. as herein shown and described except as required by the scope of the appended claims.

' Of the'drawing:

Figure 1. represents a central longitudinal section of a tool embodying the principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 represents a transverse section of same'on line 2, 2, on Fig. 1.

Figure 3 represents a transverse section of same on line 3, 3, on Fig. 1-.

Figure 4 represents an elevation of one part of the valve thereof.

Figure 5 represents a section of same on line 5, 5, on Fig. 4, drawn to an enlarged scale, and

Figures 6 and 7 represent respectively a side elevation and end elevation of the other part of said valve.

Similar characters indicate like arts throughout the several figures of the rawmg. 4 v

In the drawing, 10 is a cylindrical casing having an enlarged annular head 11 at one end, the inner face of this head being provided with a wedge shaped thread 12 to re- 45 ceive and engage a thread 13 upon a split ring 14, the bore of which is provided with a thread 15 to engage the cap thread on the hub of an automobile wheel.

Within the casing 10 is an oil reservoir 16 closed at its outer end by a threaded mem- Threaded to the casing 10is a ber 17 provided with a stufiing box 18 to receive and form a bearing-for a ram 19, the

' a leather cup-shaped washer 24 and a. metal washer 25, said washer 24 preventing leakage past the piston 22. w

The casing 10 has an opening 26 therein through which the reservoir 16 is adapted to be filled with oil, this 0 ening 26 normally being closed by a threa ed plug 27.

..In the opposite end of the casing 10 is a plunger 28 having itsouter end plvoted at 29 to an actuating lever 30 which in turn is pivoted at 31 toone end of a link 32, the opposite end of which is pivoted at 33 to said casing 10.

The lever 30 has a cylindrical end 34 on which a handle 35 may be disposed to give greater leverage to the lever 30 when the tool is beingoperated.

The plunger 28 extends through a stufling box 36 threaded to the reduced end 37 of the casing 10. I

The lower end of the lever 30 has pivoted thereto, at 38, a stop member '39 normally retained against the outer end of the reduced end 37 by a spring 40.

Within the oil reservoir 16 is a spring 41 which is interposed between the piston 22 and the threaded member 17 and normally retains the piston 22 and ram 19 in the position indicated in the drawings.

By the means of the lever 30, the plunger 28 is ada ted to be reciprocated in the cylindrical ore 42 extending from the oil res ervoir 16 through the stufling box 36.

plug 43 having an annular groove 43m'there1n from which radial holes 44 extend inwardly to the cylindrical hole 45, the upper'end of which communicates through a. passage 46 with the bore 42.

This passage 46 is normally closed by a segment 47 of a valve member 48 which has a head 49'at one end'with slots 50 therein to receive one end of a'spiral spring 51 secured to the end wall of the oil reservoir 16 by a screw 52.

This spring 51 serves a dual purpose as it prevents the valve member 48 from turning about its axis and also normally retains the head 49 in contact with the end wall of the oil reservoir 16.

Adjacent the head 49, the valve member 48 is provided with an annular groove 53 which communicateswith elongated depressions 54 extending lengthwise of the upper part of the valve member 48.

This valve member 48 has a recess 55 therein slightly longer than the segment 47, there by permitting limited movement of the valve member 48 relative to said segment 47.

The valve member 48 has a hole'56 extending inwardly from the inner end thereofi which communicates through perforations 57 with the recess 55.

Some of the oil in the bore 42 in advance of the plunger 28 passes through this hole 56 and perforations 57 against the fiat inner wall of the se ient 47 and retains said segment against its seat, thereby under normal conditions closing the passage 46.

The oil reservoir 16 has extending therefrom a passage 58 which communicates with the annular groove 43% in the member 43 and also communicating with the annular groove 43a is one end of another passage 59, the opposite end of which communicates with the bore 42' and is normally open permitting oil from the reservoir 16 to enter the bore 42 between the plunger 28 and the valve 48.

end with the reduce The head 11 is provided with radial sockets 60 adapted to receive a spanner wrench of usual construction to permit the tool being rotated about its axis when being screwed upon the split ring 14.

The split ring 14 is also provided with sockets 61 to receive a spanner wrench so that said ring may be turned when threadin said rin upon the threaded hub of a ve ials wheel.

By having several sizes of adapter rin s 61 t e tool may be used to remove the whee s offany make of motor car.

The plunger 28 is rovided on its forward d projection 28a adapted to contact with and move the valve 48 when the2l80ngest stroke is imparted to the plunger i When it is desired to use the tool the split ring 14 is screwed onto the cap-threads of the hub of a vehicle wheel, and the head 11 is then mounted upon the split ring 1.4 as indicated in the drawing.

When this has been accomplished the forward end of the ram; 19 will bear against the outer end of the axle 21 supporting the wheel to be removed. I

The forwa d end of the plunger 28 at this time be in the dotted position indicated at 285 uncovering the passageway 59 so that the oil in the reservoir 16 may pass through'the passages 58 and 59 into the bore 42 in advance of the plunger.

A pull upon the lever 30, 35, will then cause the plunger 28 to be advanced thereby closing the passage 59 and forcing the 011 in the, bore 42 in adance of said plunger against the rear end of the valve 48, thus opening the valve and permitting the oil in the bore 42 to enter the reservoir 16 behind the piston 22.

The inner movement of the plunger 28 at this time is limited by the stop member 39 coming into contact with the rear face oi the re uced end 37 of the casing.

As this operation is repeated successively a. suihcient quantity of oil from the bore 42 is forced into the reservoir between the piston 22 and the rear end of the said reservoir thereby causing the casing 10 to be moved outwardly relatively to the piston 22 and ram 19.

The initial movement of the casing 10 will cause the wedge-shaped thread 12 to bear against the wedgeshaped' thread 13 of the split ring 14 and compress this ring so that 'the thread 15 on said ring'will be impinged upon the thread of the-wheel hub and prevent the stripping of said thread during the wheel-removing o oration.

As the oil continues to be forced into the reservoir from the bore 42, the wheel will be ulled from the an lo 21.

uring the operation of removal the segment 47 will be retained upon its seat and close the return passage 46.

When the operation has been completed it is necessary to permit the return of the oil behind the piston 22 into the reservoir 16 in advance of said piston preparatory to another operation.

In order to accomplish this the operator presses upon the thumb pad 39a." of the stop member 39 and at the same time moves the lever 30, 35 so that a longer stroke is imparted to the plunger 28.

This longer stroke of said plunger will close the passage 59 and when the reduced end 28a; comes into contact with the valve 48 it will move it endwise suihciently to permit sage 46 and then through the cylindrical opening 45 and passage 58 into the forward end of the reservoir 16.

As the oil is removed in this manner the spring 41 will expand and return the piston 22 to the position indicated in the drawing.

neeaeev When this has been accomplished the tool is ready for another operation.

It will be noted that by means of the same lever a short stroke may be imparted to the plunger 28 to force oil from the bore 42 into reservoir 16 or a longer stroke may be imparted to said plunger to permit the return of said oil from one end of said reservoir through the bore 42 into the other end of said reservoir, 7 r

it is believed that the operation and many advantages of the invention will be under stood without further description.

Having thus described my invention, it

claim: I

1. The combination or" a casing having at one end an oil reservoir and means for securing it to the periphery of the hub of a vehicle wheel, said casing having a central bore extending from and communicating with the outer end of said reservoir and of uniform diameter throughout its length; a piston in said reservoir provided with a ram of reduced diameter adapted to bear against the end of the wheel-supporting axle; a plunger in the opposite end of said casing fitting said bore and adapted to be reciprocated therein to force oil under pressure from said bore directly into said reservoir against said. piston; a spring-pressed'valve having a head within said reservoir normally closing tlfe inner end of said bore and having the part within the mouth of said bore in two sections, one section being movable longitudinally relatively to the other section; a return passage from said bore to said reservoir normally closed by the said movable section of said valve; and

manually actuated means pivotally connected to said plunger for imparting a short stroke to said plunger thereby causing the valve to be moved by the oil confined within said bore only enough to uncover the bore and permit said oil to be forced under pressure from said bore directly into said reservoir or im arting a longer stroke to insure contact wit the valve and move it sufficiently to uncover the return passage.

2. The combination of a casing having at one end an oil reservoir and means for securing it to the eriphery of the hub of a wheel, said casing avin a central bore extending from and communicating with said reservoir and of uniform diameter throughout its length; a spring ressed piston in said reservoir provided wit a ram of reduced diameter adapted to bear against the end of wheel-supsaid reservoir; a spring-pressed valve p r vided with ahead within said reservoir and having a part thereof within said bore adauted to normally close said return passage and adapted to be moved by said plungor under certain conditions to uncover said return passage, said valve having near its head an annular groove communicating with peripheral depressions extending lengthwise thereof for the passage of oil when said valve is moved from the mouth of said bore; and manually actuated means for re ciprocating said pldnger.

3. The combination of a casing having at one end an oil reservoir and meansi'or securing it to the periphery of the hub of a wheel, saidcasing having extending from and communicating with the outer end of said reservoir a central bore of uniform diameter thropghout its length; a piston in said reservoir. provided with a ram of reduced diameter adapted to bear against the end of the wheelsupporting axle; a plunger" in the opposite outer end of said casing fitting said bore and adapted to be-reciprocated therein to force oil under pressure from said here directly into said reservoir against said piston; a bypass for the passage of Oil. from the inner end or said oil reservoir to said bore in advance of bore; and manually actuated means at the outer end of said casing for imparting either a short or long stroke to said plunger.

\ l. The combination of a casing having at one end an oil reservoir andtmeans forecouring it to the periphery of the hub of a wheel,

said casing having a central bore extending from and communicating with the outer end of said reservoir with which said bore 15 1n axial ahnement; a p1ston in said reservoir provided with a ram of reduced diameter adapted to bear against the end of the wheelsupporting axle: a plunger in the opposite.

outer end of said casing adapted to be reciprocated in said cylindrical bore and force oil under pressure from said bore directly into said reservoir against said piston; a springpressed valve normally closing the inner end of said bore but adapted to be opened durinsr the advance stroke oi said plungerin said bore; a link pivoted at one end to the outer end of said casing; a lever pivoted at a point intermediate itsends to the opposite end of 1 said link and pivotally connected near one end thereof-t0 the outer end of said plunger; and a spring-pressed finger pivoted to and carried by said lever and adapted to normally bear against the outer end of said casing to limit the inward movement of said plunger.

5. The combination of a casing having at one end an oil reservoir and means for securing it to the periphery of the hub of a'wheel,

communicating with the inner end of said reservoir by a return passage; a valve normally closing the inner end of said bore and said return passage; a link pivoted at one end to the outer end of said casing; a lever pivoted at a point intermediate its ends to the opposite end of said link and pivotally connected near one end to the outer end of said plunger; a stop member pivoted to said lever and adapted to limit the advance stroke of said plunger; and means whereby said stop member may be moved into position to permit an increased movement of said plunger to contact with and move said valve endwlse a dlstance suiiicient to uncover said return passage and the inner end of said bore.

6. The combination of a casing having an oil reservoir containing a piston and provided with a central bore extending from one end of said reservoir and containing a reciprocating plunger, the mouth of said bore being connected with the opposite end of said reservoir by passages at two separated points in the length of said bore, the first of said passages being closed by the initial advance movement of said plunger; means for imparting two distinct strokes to said plunger; and a spring-pressed valve closing the mouth of said bore and the mouth of the second passage, said valve having a bore-closing head within said reservoir and. its body portion in the mouth of the'bore provided with longitudinal deprmsions in its periphery for the passage of oil to and from said reservoir when said valve head is moved from the mouth of said bore.

7. The combination of a casing having an oil reservoir containing a piston and provided with a central bore extending from one end of said reservoir and containing a reciprocating plunger, the mouth of said bore being con nected with the opposite end of said reservoir by passages at two separated points in the length of said bore, the first of said passages being closed by the initial advance movement of said plunger means for imparting two distinct strokes to said plunger; and a. springpressed valve closing the mouth of said bore and the mouth of the second passe e, said valve having a bore-closing head w1 in said reservoir and its body portion in the mouth 1 of said reservoir and containing a reciprocating plunger, the mouth of said bore being connected with the opposite end of said reservoir by passages at two separated points in the length of said bore, the first of said pas sages being closed by the initial advance movement of said plunger; means for imparting two distinct strokes to said plunger; and a spring-pressed valve closing the mouth of said bore and the mouth of the second passage, said valve having a bore-closing head within said reservoir and its body portion within the mouth of the bore provided with peripheral oil passages, the valve having a separate segmental portion movable longitudinally relatively to the main body portion, said segment normally closing the return passage from the bore to said reservoir.

9, The combination of a, casing having an oil reservoir containing a piston and provided with a central core extending from one end of said reservoir and containing a reciprocating plunger, the mouth of said here being connected with the opposite end of said reservoir by passages at two separated points in the length of said bore, the first of said passages being closed by the initial advance movement of said plun er; meansfor imparting two distinct stro es to said plunger; and a spring-pressed valve closing the mouth of said bore and the mouth of the second passage, said valve having a bore-closing head within said reservoir and its body portion within the mouth of the bore provided with peripheral oil passages and a central opening at its inner end having radial holes extending therefrom, the valve having a separate segmental portion movable longitudinally relatively to the main body portion said segment normally closing the secon passage from the bore to said reservoir, and being forced into contact with the wall of said bore by the pressure of oil in said bore, opening and holes 10. The combination of a casing having an oil reservoir containing a piston and provided with a central bore extending from one end of said reservoir and containing a reciprocating plunger, the mouth of said bore being connected with the opposite end of said so the end of the wheel-supporting axle; a

reservoir by passages at two points in the length of said bore, the first of said passages being closed by the initial advance movement of said p unger; means for imparting 6 two distinct strokes to said plunger; and a spring-pressed valve closing the mouth of said bore and the mouth of the second pas sage, said valve having a head within saidreservoir and its body ortion within the to mouth of the bore provi ed with peripheral oil passages and a central openin at its inner end having radial holes exten ing therefrom, the valve having a separate segmental portion movable longitudinally relati ely to the main body portion a limited distance said segment normally closing the secon passage from the bore to said reservoir, and being forced into contact with the wall of said bore by the pressure of oil in said bore, opening and holes.

- 11. The combinationof a casing having at one end an oil reservoir and means for securing it to the periphery of the hub of a wheel, said casing having an elongated central bore extending from and communicating with the outer end of said reservoir and of uniform diameter throughout its length; a piston in said reservoir provided witha ram of reduced diameter adapted to bear against plunger inthe op osite end of said casing fitting said bore an adapted to be reciprocated therein to force oil under pressure from said bore directly into said reservoir against said piston; a by-pass for the passage of oil from the inner end of said oil reservoir to said bore in advance of said plunger; a return passage from said bore to the inner end of said reservoir; a valve provided with 'a head 40 within said reservoir and extending into said bore adapted to normally close sa d passage and inner end of said bore, said valve being adapted to be moved by said plunger under certain conditions to uncover said return passage, the portion of said valve within said bore having a plurality of longitudinal eripheral grooves for the passage of oil om said bore into said reservoir when said head is removed from the mouth of said bore; and manually actuated means for reciprocating said plunger to force oil against said valve and open it or move said valve sufiiciently to uncover said return passa Signed by me at 746 Old South B dg.,

Boston, Mass., this 25th day of November,

OSCO E. HART. 

